Mobility

LAX greenlights plan allowing Uber, Lyft to pick up passengers

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), once a monopoly for the city’s 2,300 licensed taxi drivers, could soon be open to allowing ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft to pick up passengers, The Washington Post reported.

The LAX Board of Commissioners voted for a change Thursday, which would allow Uber and Lyft drivers to drop off and pick up passengers at a designed area on the airport’s upper departure level, paying the airport $4 each way, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The plan, which must be approved by the airport and city attorney, is a major blow to taxi drivers, who have long argued they are at a disadvantage because their fares (LAX-to-downtown approx. $50 before tip) are set by cities, and those prices are usually higher than ride-hailing services’ discount options such as UberX (approx. $30 during non-peak periods), The Washington Post reported. For the full story, click here.